Prabhu Kumar v. State of Himachal Pradesh 2026 INSC 253 - RpWD Act -Upper Disability Cap

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 - Professional capability must be assessed on actual functional competence rather than a mere percentage of disability- State cannot rely on arbitrary medical disability percentages to create an insurmountable barrier to professional entry. (Para 32) The percentage of disability, by itself, cannot be treated as determinative of a candidate’s capability or suitability for public employment. The statutory framework under the RPwD Act, 2016 enjoins upon the State a positive obligation to ensure equal opportunity and to provide reasonable accommodation so that persons with disabilities are not excluded merely on account of their physical condition. (Para 27) [Context: In this case, Supreme Court held that appointment cannot be denied to a candidate with 90% locomotor disability by prescribing an upper disability cap of 60% in the advertisement, as this conflicted with the RPwD Act, 2016 and the constitutional guarantees of equality and equal opportunity. ]